Pastor Steve Garcia of Sunrise Church in Rialto.

• How did God call you into pastoral ministry?

I got my degree in television broadcasting and even worked for a local television station with dreams of being a sportscaster. Over time, God began to change my heart’s desires. While on a mission trip to Utah, I sensed God calling me to fully abandon my plans and surrender to his call for my life.

• What is a Bible story or passage that you think best describes the role of a pastor?

Matthew 9:36 - “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
I used to think that pastoral ministry was solely preaching sermons. But I have come to learn how to compassionately love the flock Jesus has entrusted me with. The Good Shepherd cares for us. To be good shepherds, we must do the same for others, not just from a stage, but in the trenches.

• What are your favorite books?

I tend to drift towards books on opposite ends of the spectrum. Soul-inspiring works like In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen all the way over to apologetics books like I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Geisler and Turek.

• What brings financial health to churches?

Three things:

1. Leading by example: I have to practice what I preach and unapologetically invest my money in Kingdom causes. I’ve worked with many pastors over the years who work for the church but never give to it. When the Pastor is first in line to give, that has a direct impact on the financial health of the church.
2. Talking about money openly and graciously: I’ve heard the three most difficult topics to preach on are money, sex, and money. :) Churches tend to drift toward extremes, not talking about money at all or talking about it too much. Striking that balance of spending the right amount of time teaching biblical stewardship without shaming people is incredibly difficult but completely necessary.
3. Transparency and accountability: Churches must have checks and balances in place to ensure that financial management is above board. I also recommend employing the services of an independent auditor who will make sure all the church’s financial practices are done lawfully and with integrity. Sharing these accountability measures with the church inspires their confidence to give.

• What is your advice to families who are considering whether to leave a portion of their estate to Kingdom causes?

The main thing I encourage people toward is to consider the impact their church had on their spiritual lives. For many people, the church is the place where they met Christ, it’s where they grew, it’s where they got baptized, it’s where their kids got baptized, it’s where their parents had their funerals, and the place where their small group supported them through their darkest days. If the church had this kind of impact on you, don’t you want to fan that flame for someone else after you’re gone? We obviously can’t take our money with us into eternity, so why not invest a portion in Christ-centered ministries that can help someone else experience what you did?

• How has God used ministry to bring you closer to Him?

On a weekly basis, I get a front-row seat to how the power of Christ transforms people. That invigorates me and draws me closer to God. Since I preach most Sundays, I am deeply in God’s Word, receiving from the Lord lessons that will never make it into a sermon. Yes, ministry is hard and is filled with difficult people, but being a Pastor also gives me access to others who regularly encourage me about how I’ve had an impact in their life. It is incredibly humbling to think that God does not need me, but he still chooses to use me.